Eternal Thief

Chapter 1567: Start of Evernight Trial! (2)

The sight of three Evernight Duke vessels hovering below the Evernight Gate was magnificent to say the least. Yet, at the same time, it was terrifying for those who wanted to enter the Evernight Sanctuary by taking advantage of this rare opportunity.

Some overexcited Abyssal Beings instantly stopped far away while feeling chills down their spine from the sheer oppression caused by the duke vessels.

Apparently, the three duke vessels also serve as a deterrence to those who still think that it would be easy to snatch away those entry slots of the Evernight Sanctuary.

After all, the most significant share of those slots would always be in the hands of the Evernight Dukes, and if their candidates lost those slots to some lowlife, it would be a massive blow to their reputation.

That’s why this wasn’t about getting their candidates inside the sanctuary anymore. Still, it was now a matter of honor and dignity for not only Evernight Dukes but also other high-ranking Evernight Nobles.

Dread Duchess or the other two dukes paid those ambitious Abyssal Beings no heed, for not even the Evernight Marquis was qualified to speak to them unless they were given permission.

At that moment, Dread Duchess finally nodded towards both dukes in greetings despite her unwillingness to mingle with Enchantress Demon Duchess. Nonetheless, she was still the Dread Duchess, and her somewhat arrogant actions were justified, and neither duke would mind either.

”Enchantress Demon Duchess, Corpse Duke, I wasn’t expecting you both to be interested in going back to the Evernight Sanctuary.” Dread Duchess spoke impassively, as if casually making remarks, but she was clearly probing their intentions.

Before Corpse Duke could reply, Enchantress Demon Duchess’s cheerful voice sounded, ”Oh, who is interested in going back to that boring place? I’m only here to join in the fun and give my cuties a chance to have fun.”

Dread Duchess held her urge to roll her eyes and only nodded at Enchantress Duchess’s reply before she glanced towards the eerie coffin-like vessel of the Corpse Duke.

Although the Corpse Duke was the newest addition to the King Circle, and always seemed to have a humble attitude and usually mind his own business, this only raised dukes like Dread Duchess’s interest in him more because the Corpse Duke was too mysterious.

Corpse Duke’s polite yet eerie voice sounded, ”It’s been a while since I’ve been to the sanctuary, not to mention it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event of our Abyssal Plains, so I can’t just sit around and watch some outsiders taking away our people’s rights!”

”How heroic...” Enchantress Demon Duchess giggled as she cast an admiring glance at Corpse Duke, which sent chills down the Duke’s spine, while Dread Duchess merely nodded, her thoughts unknown.

”How lively!” At that moment, a crisp, icy voice, filled with arrogance and disdain, sounded as if its owner looked down upon everyone.

The motif on Dread Duchess’s mask seems to glow with ghastly killing intent the moment she heard that voice, as if the owner of this voice was someone she loathed to the core.

At that moment, the space beside the three duke vessels literally froze as a creeping layer of pale frost spread across the space itself, crystallizing the abyssal Qi into drifting shards of ice-black snow.

The temperature plummeted so abruptly that even Ace and Eva felt their souls stiffen as if their circulation was slowing, as if death had brushed past them in passing.

Right at that moment...

CRACK.

Space split open like glass struck by a silent hammer, and from within the fracture emerged a vessel that was the absolute antithesis of the Enchantress Demon Duchess’s decadent palace and the Corpse Duke’s funereal dreadcraft.

It was cold perfection as the ship resembled a floating glacial cathedral, carved entirely from translucent yin-ice that shimmered between obsidian black and moonlit silver.

Its hull was sharp and angular, each edge precise enough to cut intent itself. Frozen runic veins pulsed faintly beneath the surface, radiating pure Yin Law, silent, absolute, and merciless.

At its bow stood a figure sculpted as if by a Devilish God with an obsession for icy elegance.

She wore flowing robes of pale midnight blue and white, layered like frost petals, each fold exuding chilling dignity. Her figure was slender and willowy, her presence graceful yet oppressive, like a winter night, as if death were beneath its beauty.

Her skin was porcelain pale, unmarred and flawless, as if untouched by warmth since birth. Long silver-black hair cascaded down her back like frozen silk, drifting unnaturally in the space.

Her face was hidden behind a pitch-black mask bearing an eerie motif of an arrowhead, but her eyes were visible, pools of condensed Yin, dark and luminous, with a faint icy glow that made one feel dissected just by being seen.

”Ah...” She said lightly, her voice clear and crisp like ice cracking beneath a careless step, ”So many familiar faces. It seems the Evernight Sanctuary truly brings out the desperate.”

The moment she appeared, the atmosphere shifted. The Enchantress Demon Duchess’s playful smile widened slightly in faint amusement.

The Corpse Duke straightened subtly, chains on his dread craft rattling as if responding to the Yin pressure.

But it was still the Dread Duchess whose killing intent surged uncontrollably as the crimson devil motif on her mask flared, and a murderous aura leaked out like a drawn blade.

”Yin Duchess!” Dread said coldly, each syllable heavy with disdain, ”You crawl out of your frozen hole surprisingly fast when scraps are involved!”

The Yin Duchess’s eyes darkened as Abyssal Yin Qi, faintly swirling violently around her like an arctic storm. Yet, she forced herself to calm down, keeping her sharp, elegant yet venomous appearance.

”Careful now, old friend,” She said softly. ”Nostalgia makes people reckless.”

”How about I test my recklessness and see what would happen to that ice hole behind you?” Dread Duchess uttered fearlessly as her spiritual pressure began to spread toward the Yin Duchess, without a hint of wariness.

The Yin Duchess seemed to flinch ever so slightly as she tilted her head, feigning thoughtfulness.

Her icy gaze was locked on Dread Duchess with open hostility. Yet, she was completely on guard before her eyes flickered briefly toward Ace and Eva, and a peculiar glint flashed past her deceitful eyes!